While I cannot top Sam's funny golf story (I was on the opposing Ohio team & just may have been the guy with the eraser!), I can share some memories of the last 54 years I spent with the best dad anyone could have...
We grew up in the 60's on Welch Drive in what was the "new" West side neighborhood of Eagledale. Mom and dad built the first house on the West side of Welch, 3514. Dad was a fireman with IFD from 1956 to 1985. He and his brothers Jack, Bill and Sam, continued the "family business" of firefighting at IFD that their dad started in 1938. My grandfather played baseball for IFD at a time when most businesses had a baseball team and were looking for good ball players.
I loved hearing my dad talk about all the runs he had when he came home from his 24 hour shift. I always asked mom to take us to the firehouse to see dad, play on the engine and truck and always wanted to go on a run. I finally got that chance in 2013 when I spent a day at 7's and got to go on several runs. Dad had some funny fire stories, too. There was an apartment fire where he had to carry a rather large woman down a ladder from the 2nd story window. He said she was so heavy he almost dropped her. I remember the stories about the firehouse poker games, guys throwing things at dad caused he snored too loud, dad cooking "beef n noodles" and chili at the firehouse and many others. I remember mom taking us to see dad at 5's and looking at the Gamewell ticker tape to see why the firehouse was empty and begging mom to go find the fire. Like most firemen, dad had side jobs. He worked for Brinks armored car, a pest control company, two liquor stores (I think he got discounts on Fallstaff), and a locksmith company. I remember going to Stn 31 with him when he exterminated the firehouse. I kept playing with the buttons in the watch room while they were on a run. Turned out the button was to change the stoplight out front to red! I had traffic backed up on 46th St. for blocks! I remember seeing dad on the Brinks truck at a store, sneaking up behind him and hearing gun shots! The truck had noise makers that would keep would be robbers think twice about coming too close. He scared the living crap out of me!!
At home, dad would always try to do home repairs himself or with the help of a buddy to save money. My mom hated that cause it wouldn't turn out quite right. I recall dad and someone from IFD building the family room addition. We heard plenty of 4 letter words that summer!! Our cat got up in the false ceiling in that room one night when dad was sleeping and fell through. Dad was so mad at that cat. I remember dad taking us to Northwest HS when we were little and letting us sit on his lap and steer the car around the parking lot, going to Soap Box Derby Hill on 30th St., and racing down the hill in the wagon. Poor John kind of got run over with that wagon one day...sorry John I know you've never been the same since, haha. Dad taught me how to ride a bike-but not how to avoid running into the same sticker bush time after time.
In my older years dad and I have done several fun things. I took him flying in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. Dad took flying lessons as a young man but never finished getting his license. He got to fly the plane with me a few times and had a lot of fun. We went on several vacations with dad and Pam - Branson, French Lick most recently. We always had fun together and I will miss him, miss talking to him on the phone, and miss his jokes and little wise cracks.
Dad, I love you. You fought a good fight and I know you are with our Heavenly Father in peace now. I will see you in Heaven when it's my time. Save me a seat.
Pam, thank you for loving my dad, staying by his side, and taking good care of him. You did a great job!!
